Abstract: The hard shells or hulls of whole nuts are effectively cracked and separated from the nut meat by propelling and impacting the whole nuts at a predetermined trajectory velocity against an adjustable impacting plate set at the appropriate impacting angle. By controlling the manner in which the whole nuts impact against the impacting plate, the fracturing of the hard shell may be controlled so as to optimize the whole nut meat recovery while minimizing the production of split nut meats. A variable speed impeller in combination with adjustability of the impacting plate optimizes the nut cracking and nut meat separation for any type of whole nut. An orderly sequential feed of whole nuts to an off-set feed zone of rotating impellers equipped with vanes having a catching section and an accelerating section at a regulated rotational speed effectively propels the whole nuts against the adjustable impacting plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for skinning sausages or other food products, wherein an initial cut is made on a front end of said sausage, particularly in the region of an end-side tapering of the sausage, the skin is grabbed in the region of the initial cut at two points located at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction by means of two gripping elements, wherein the skin is particularly pulled onto a plane in a planar manner by a first working movement, particularly onto the contact surface of the sausage, the skin is cut parallel to the longitudinal extension of the sausage starting at the initial cut in the region between the gripping elements, the skin is lifted up away from the plane by a working movement of the gripping elements, and the sausage is conveyed parallel to the longitudinal extension thereof, particularly relative to the position of the gripping elements holding the sausage in a lifted position, and the skin is thus pulled off the sausage.

Abstract: An avocado pulper having two grip belts approximately oval in shape and further having a plurality of grip plates around the grip belts. The grip plates are knurled thereby facilitating a grasping of an avocado as it is conveyed into the grip belts and rides through to the rear opening. A pivotable and adjustable belt guide within an inner section of each grip belt is adapted to exert maximum squeezing pressure on the avocado at the approximate middle section of the grip belts at which point the grip belts are in approximate contact with one another. Pulp is thereby squeezed from the avocado. The grip belts separate at the approximate rear defining for releasing the skin of the avocado. A de-seeder adjacent to the front end opening of the grip belts removes the seed from the avocado prior to its entry into the maximum squeezing section.

Abstract: A peeling device supports a fresh commodity in a first position in a nonspecific orientation. The commodity is impelled using a thruster toward a scoring structure for scoring the peel to a predetermined depth into two sectors. Peel grippers hold the peel between the scores and release the peeled commodity, such that the peel is retained on the gripping means. The thruster is positioned and adapted to force the commodity along a path to engage the cutting and peel-gripping elements, the thruster bottom surface changeable from a first, generally concave orientation for conforming to a shape of the commodity to a second, generally convex orientation for releasing the commodity from the peel.

Abstract: The system for peeling a fresh commodity includes barbs for piercing the peel in a plurality of spaced-apart locations. A vacuum infuser is used to infuse the pierced commodity with an aqueous solution to loosen the peel. A peeling device supports a fresh commodity in a first position. The commodity is impelled toward a structure having cutting elements for scoring the peel to a predetermined depth. Preferably the scores are made along generally circumferential lines having substantially common endpoints. Peel grippers hold the peel between the scores and release the peeled commodity, such that the peel is retained on the gripping means. A thruster is positioned and adapted to force the commodity along a path to engage the cutting and peel-gripping elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing skin from a convex surface of a section of fruit. The apparatus includes a substantially U-shaped peeling blade and a feeder which in use contacts and grips the fruit or vegetable at a location about opposite the apex of the peeling blade so as to urge the fruit past the peeling blade, characterized in that the apparatus also includes at least one guide for guiding the fruit past the peeling blade.

Abstract: By providing fruit processing apparatus comprising rotatable movement control members and a U-shaped cutting blade cooperatively associated therewith, high speed, efficient and automatic removal of skins and seeds from a fruit segment is efficiently achieved. The rotatable movement control members receive the fruit segment with the cutting blade positioned along the junction between the skin and the edible fruit portion. Then, the fruit segment is arcuately pivoted, causing the blade to pass between the juncture surface, completely separating the skin from the fruit. If desired, a seed sack removal member is also employed for removing and separating the seeds from the edible fruit.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing skin from a convex surface of a section of fruit. The apparatus includes a curved peeling blade which presents a concave peeling surface to the convex surface of the section of fruit and a drive gear wheel in mesh with an idler gear wheel. Each wheel has a concentric outwardly extending fruit gripping portion which are profiled such that in combination they conform to the curved peeling blade. When the drive wheel is driven and the wheels are rotating, the fruit gripping portions grip a section of fruit and urge the section of fruit past the peeling blade so as to remove the skin from the fruit.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for peeling the husk from produce such as garlic cloves in which cup means are provided with circumferentially spaced, inwardly biased prongs that converge toward an exit end, the prongs having gripping members adjacent the exit end. A plunger is provided for pushing the garlic meat relative to the husk while the husk is being held by the gripping members. In the method, the husk is held and gripped at the circumferentially spaced locations while the meat is pressed axially of the husk relative to the husk while the husk is being gripped. Preferably, the husk is simultaneously scored or cut as it is gripped to split the husk.

Abstract: Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables comprises a plurality of rotatably driven peeling elements having predetermined axes of rotation that are generally horizontal and substantially parallel to one another. The peeling elements have a provision for engaging the peel of the fruits and vegetables. A plurality of flexible, elongate, peeling enhancement fingers, each having a first end and a second end, are mounted to the apparatus above the peeling elements by their first ends. The first ends lie in a generally horizontal row that is generally parallel to the axes of rotation of the peeling elements. The fingers extend generally toward the peeling elements with the second end of each finger being proximal at least two peeling elements, so that the finger engages the item of fruit or vegetable being engaged by the adjacent peeling elements. A support structure provides support for the peeling elements, fingers and drive mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables includes a plurality of substantially parallel shafts including a first set of shafts and a second set of shafts with one of the second set shafts interposed between each adjacent pair of the first set of shafts, a plurality of axially adjacent and spaced peeling disks affixed to each shaft for rotation therewith with each such disk having a flexible radially extending portion for engaging an item to be peeled with means for rotating all of the shafts in the same direction with all of the shafts of the first set being rotated at a first predetermined speed and all of the shafts of the second set being rotated at a second speed differing from the first speed with support apparatus for supporting the rotating mechanism and the shafts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for removing skins and pits from avocados and the like in a process where the avocado is initially held in a split cup, knife means being operated for cutting through the avocado skin and flesh and for engaging and holding the avocado pit, jaw means being operated for engaging respective skin portions of the avocado, the jaw means then being retracted with the avocado skins, stripper means being movable relative to the knife means for urging the avocado flesh away from the avocado pit, the flesh portions of the avocados being collected in a first collection means, the pits and skins of the avocados being collected in a second collection means. Prior to processing in the manner described above, the avocados are preferably treated by immersion in hot avocado oil or the like in order to loosen their skins.

Abstract: An onion peeling device is created by means of which a substantial number of onions can be peeled one immediately after the other in simple and sanitary but also precise manner.An onion rest is provided, further pivot arms circularly arranged on a support plate with a clearance, where the support plate and the clearance can be guidably displaced above the onion rest and where the pivot arms are drawn toward each other by spring means and include heads pointing toward the center of the clearance, the spacing of the heads formed by stop means corresponding in the initial condition to the average onion cross-section in the area of the cut-off onion blossom, the heads being provided with slitting knives located in the plane of rotation and stripper means extending approximately tangentially to the onion cross-section.

Abstract: The machine comprises a lift-conveyor with a lower return-stretch (5) followed in succession by sets of accelerator-chains (7), cutter-device (25), pressure-shoe device (26), bottle-neck exit device (27) and deflector device (22). Sets of channels composed of one fixed (39) and one movable oscillating cheek (20) are arranged in succession about the periphery of the drum (15) and caused thus to rotate. A gulley (40) located between each pair of fixed channel-cheeks provides for discharging peeled tomatoes. Each of the movable channel-cheeks is fitted outermost with a roller (21) designed to pass through the deflector (22) which causes the cheek itself to be drawn toward a fixed magnet (23) and held thereby in the open position until coming against a flexible cam profile (24) which detaches it from said magnet in order to bring about the required squeezing action performed by the channel-cheeks in causing each single tomato to eject from its covering of skin, viz. (28).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for separating the pulp from the skin of fruit, such as tomatoes, in which each fruit is gripped and transported by mechanism along a predetermined path, a cut to the skin of the fruit is produced by cutting device adjacent the path and the pulp is urged away from the gripping and transporting apparatus at a pulp discharge position while the skin remains gripped by that apparatus to separate the pulp from the skin.

Abstract: Apparatus for pulling the skin from the hind legs of hog carcasses comprises a hand held power operated clamping device for gripping the skin of the hind leg of the carcass. A power operated retracting mechanism includes a pneumatic power unit connected to the clamping device by cable and the retracting mechanism is operable when retracted to pull the clamped skin from the hind leg. A control mechanism controls operation of the clamping device for selective cycling of the latter between clamping and released conditions, and automatically cycles the pneumatic retracting unit through the retracting and extension cycles.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing material from the surface of fruits and vegetables (produce) and separating the removed material from the resultant mixture utilizes the rotation of an upwardly directed cage formed of elongated rotating spindles having a material removing surface thereon, the cage rotary speed being sufficient, at the interior radius thereof, to maintain the produce in continuous centrifugal force contact against the spindle material removing surface, but generally insufficient to prevent downward movement or migration of the produce within the cage under the force of gravity. Produce to be treated is urged into engagement with the spindles and the rotating cage causes the produce to accelerate substantially to said rotary speed, whereby the produce travels with the cage in contact with the rotating material removing spindle surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously peeling vegetables and fruits in large quantities. The apparatus includes a support structure with a housing rotatably mounted thereon, the housing having a plurality of closely spaced-apart, rotating abrading spindles mounted thereon forming an enclosed cage. Rotation of the cage at a sufficient rate accelerates produce items engaging the spindles into generally circular orbits at a speed which results in the produce items being held against the rotating spindles by centrifugal force. The centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the cage also urges peelings outwardly of the cage between the spindles for discharge. A finger drum is rotatably mounted on said support structure within the cage and has a plurality of flexible fingers thereon adapted to engage produce items as they move from a feed end to a discharge end of the housing. Rotation of the finger drum causes the fingers to urge the produce items into initial engagement with the spindles.

Abstract: A dry peeler for fleshy fruit is formed as a rotating cage having an annular helical conveyor with axially extending, circumferentially spaced neoprene peeling cords 3/8 inch in diameter stretched between adjacent convolutions of the helical conveyor. A neoprene stabilizing cable is tied to the mid portions of the peeling cords, which cable can surround all cords or can be threaded to pass inside and outside of selected peeling cords for increasing the aggressiveness of the peeling action.